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Prologue

Ireland, 1884

A child’s pitiful sob echoed fro had descended and hovered over the earth while dusk slowly approached Three lone figures made their way across the lowlands

Abehind hihtly older years danced

“Make haste, child,” the man barked

A set of unusual colored eyes looked up in earnest “Please, I’ll be good I promise”

“Too late for that,” he said “Next time ye take care to think before ye speak, lass”

“Ivy is a wicked little girl and deserves what she gets,” the boy next to the his smooth fat face into a scowl as he added, “Father says there is a deor”

Aye, many times the Earl had cried out when Ivy looked his ith her nearly albino hollow gaze, declaring it was Lucifer hi at him His words smarted so terribly she did her best to keep her eyes downcast when he was about

“Enough of that young master”

The boy’s anirew harsh “Don’t speak to me in such manner I’ll have you know I can have you thrown in the well too”

“Aye,” the reat pleasure”

Fro, the stoned well appeared Ivy instinctively recoiled The htened

The boy’s gaiety returned He ran to the stone ledge and peered over His cruel laughter reverberated deep within the cavern as he peered down into the blackness

“Think of all the creatures down there Sli on your skin and into your hair”

Her hand flew to her mop of red curls The vision of snakes and rats utterly terrified her Her efforts to escape accelerated

“Co lad no heed”

Eyes huge, she reached for hirasped hold of his arm with both hands “Please, don’t put me down there”